The charity Campaign for Better Transport has welcomed the Government’s plans to devolve more responsibility for train services to the English regions.

A new White Paper says: ‘Mayors will be given a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network. In addition to partnerships with Great British Railways, Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will have a clear right to request greater devolution of services, infrastructure and station control where it would support a more integrated network.’

Silviya Barrett from the CBT said: ‘This is a model that has worked well in London and Liverpool and enables local leaders to deliver the services that work for their communities.

‘We’re equally pleased that Great British Railways will facilitate the expansion of multi-modal, integrated ticketing across city regions. This needs to be a part of wider fares and ticketing reform to ensure passenger across the country benefit from simpler and better value fares.

‘We are pleased to see the move to multi-year funding settlements and the re-introduction of Local Transport Plans, which will provide much-needed certainty. To be successful in delivering sustainable transport networks that work for local areas, transport funding should be linked to levels of improvements required to create the modal shift needed to meet national carbon reduction objectives.’

The Railway Industry Association, which represents suppliers, has also welcomed the plans.

RIA chief executive Darren Caplan said: ‘RIA’s Nations & Regions network already has close relationships with Combined Authorities around the country, and so we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Metro Mayors as they take on a new statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing their local and regional rail networks.’